Topeka Police Guidelines for Races

Upon receipt of the Special Events Permit, the Officer-In-Charge (OIC) of the event will determine the locations needing covered by Police and/or Event volunteers.

Locations determined to need barricades (Type III) will be the responsibility of the Applicant/Event Organizer.

Locations determined to need volunteers will be secondary locations. Volunteers will be placed at these control points to direct runners and alert motorists to the presence of runners on the route.

Volunteers may be needed to assist Police at primary locations to direct runners.

High Visibility clothing SHALL be worn by all volunteers on control points. If a coat is worn, a HI-Viz vest must be worn over it. It is preferred all volunteers are clearly recognizable (uniformity).

All volunteers SHALL be on their post at least 15 minutes prior to the start time of the race.

The approved route is not open prior to the start of the race. No warming up is allowed on the designated course.

As this is a timed event/competition no participant will be allowed to wear headphones of any kind while on the route. Hearing impairment devices are excluded. Police will remove any participant from the race if this is not abided by.

The route is one way. Once a runner has finished, the runner is not allowed back out on the course. No cooling down will be allowed on the race route. Sidewalks and/or other streets may be used with normal traffic laws applying.

Coaching will only be allowed from the side of the roadway.

Police will sweep the route prior to the start of the race. The race will not be allowed to begin until the Police authorizes. Any security/safety issues will be resolved before the race is allowed to begin.

There must be a clearly defined start and finish line in place to start the race. This will be reviewed by the Police OIC to determine whether or not there is a conflict. Paths must not cross or overlap.

Event organizers must provide for picking up of trash generated by their event. (Water cups, food wrappings or peelings.)

The run is a Police Escorted Event. Lead runners must follow Police Escort while on the route. Do not overtake unless instructed to do so by the Police.